The United Nations announces the death of 294 Palestinians at military points distributing aid in Gaza.

The United Nations announced the deaths of 294 people at "military points" distributing aid in the Gaza Strip since June 30.

This was stated by Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Affairs, during an open Security Council debate held on Wednesday on the situation in the Middle East, with a focus on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Khiari noted that he briefed member states at a time when intensive negotiations were underway to reach a possible ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the release of prisoners.

He stressed the great importance of this path, which leads to a permanent end to the conflict and the release of all prisoners.

"It is long past time for the war to end, for the prisoners to return to their homes, for sufficient humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip, and for the recovery and reconstruction process to begin. All of this must take place within the framework of a return to a political process leading to a two-state solution," Khiari said.

He pointed out that the dire situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate as ceasefire talks continue.

He added: "Israeli military operations and clashes are spreading throughout the Strip, and the human cost is increasing hour by hour. This historic nightmare must end immediately."

Khayari stated that at least 1,891 Palestinians in Gaza have been martyred since his last briefing to the UN Security Council on June 30.

He continued: "294 of them were killed while trying to collect aid, including in the vicinity of military aid distribution points."

Khiari pointed out that the Israeli army continues to issue "evacuation orders," repeatedly displacing Gaza residents.

He pointed out that food insecurity and the humanitarian situation in Gaza continue to deteriorate despite the entry of limited humanitarian aid.

He added, "I reiterate Secretary-General António Guterres' calls to end the repeated forced displacement in Gaza. Any forced displacement of residents from any part of the occupied Palestinian territory constitutes a violation of obligations under international law, and all parties must always adhere to international humanitarian law and protect civilians."

Khiari stressed that the situation in the occupied West Bank remains extremely worrying, with rising levels of violence resulting from ongoing Israeli military operations, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.

He noted that the Palestinian Authority is also facing a deep financial crisis, and that Israel has not transferred $2.7 billion in tax revenues.

Khiari stressed that the Palestinian Authority's ability to fulfill its basic obligations and maintain public services has been seriously affected.

He added, "Unless the deteriorating financial and institutional situation of the Palestinian Authority is urgently addressed, it could have dire consequences, undermining the significant progress made over many years in building Palestinian institutions."

"It is imperative that the international community provide immediate support to the Palestinian Authority to address its financial challenges, strengthen its governance capacity, and prepare it to resume its responsibilities in Gaza," Khiari said.

He explained that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is facing serious operational, political, and financial pressures due to the obstruction of its activities in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Khiari announced that 330 UNRWA employees have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said that hospitals in the Strip "recorded 10 new deaths due to famine and malnutrition in the past 24 hours."

The ministry added that with these victims, "the total number of deaths from famine and malnutrition has reached 111."

Israel has been besieging Gaza for 18 years, leaving approximately 1.5 million Palestinians out of a population of approximately 2.4 million in the Strip homeless after their homes were destroyed in the war of extermination.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged a genocidal war in Gaza, leaving more than 202,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 9,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and a famine that has claimed the lives of many.

Regarding the Syrian issue, Khiari explained that Syria is facing a new wave of violence that threatens a peaceful, credible, orderly, and comprehensive political transition.

He confirmed that hundreds of people, including Druze and Bedouin civilians, were killed in the clashes that erupted in Sweida Governorate.

"I reiterate the Secretary-General's unequivocal condemnation of all acts of violence against civilians, which fuel sectarian tensions and deny the Syrian people their chance for peace and reconciliation after 14 years of devastating conflict," Khiari said.

On July 13, armed clashes erupted between Bedouin tribes and Druze groups in Sweida. Government forces then moved into the area to restore security, but were attacked by outlawed Druze groups, resulting in the deaths of dozens of soldiers.

In an effort to contain the crisis, the Syrian government announced four ceasefire agreements in Sweida, the most recent of which was on Saturday.

The three previous agreements did not hold for long, as clashes resumed on Friday after a group affiliated with Hikmat al-Hijri displaced a number of Sunni Bedouin tribesmen and committed abuses against them.

The new Syrian administration has been making intensive efforts to maintain security in the country since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, 2024, after 24 years in power.